Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Safeguarding Iowa’s Water and Soil

Safeguarding Iowa’s water while improving the health of our soil is important to the well-being of Iowa agriculture. To that end, Iowa has set aggressive goals in reducing nutrient losses under the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). A combination of nutrient management and conservation practices will be needed to meet INRS goals, which are to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading into Iowa waters from non-point sources (including agriculture) by 41 and 29 percent, respectively.

Introduction to Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Watch this video to learn more about the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and practices you can implement on your farm to help meet the goals for this important initiative to improve our water and soil.

INRS Nitrogen and Phosphorus Reduction Practices

Source: Data from the INRS (IDALS, IDNR, ISU CALS). Images courtesy of Iowa Soybean Association.
These charts show the effectiveness of specific practices at reducing nitrogen and phosphorus losses into lakes, rivers and streams as outlined in the INRS.

Nitrogen Load Reduction

Average nitrate-nitrogen concentration or load reduction as a percentage. Horizontal bars represent one standard deviation above and below the mean. Dashed line represents the 41% nitrogen reduction goal from nonpoint sources.

Phosphorus Load Reduction

Average phosphorus load reduction as a percentage. Horizontal bars represent one standard deviation above and below the mean. Dashed line represents the 29% phosphorus reduction goal from nonpoint sources.